Animal-trap.



- PATBNTEDVAUGQ'QB, 1904.

ANIMAL TRAP. APPLICATION r ILnn APR. 1. 1904.

no 110mm;

INVENTOR aem yei Milk? Arm/mas I WITNESSES:

' trap.

f UNITED STATES Patented August 23, 1904.

PATENT OF ICE.

GEORGE JOSIPH MILLER, OF WALLA' WALLA, WASHINGTON.

A'NIMALETRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,292, dated August 23, 1904.

Application filed April 1, 1904. Serial No. 201,184. (No modehl To all, whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, GEORGE J OSIPH MILLER, a citizenof the United States, residing at Walla Walla, (post-ofiice box 520,) in the county of Wallawalla and State of Washington, have'invented a new Animal-Trap, of which the following is a description.

My invention is an improvement in that class of animal-traps in which a spring-actuated bow-shaped jaw is adapted to be set and locked in a retracted position and when tripped by the animal snaps down upon his body. 1

The invention relates particularly to the construction of the locking'and tripping device and its connection with the spring-jaws; also to the construction of the spring-jaws and their attachment to fixed portions of the stationary frame, which portions constitute their fulcra; also themeans for connecting the ends of the wires forming each of the spring-jaws.

The details of construction, arrangement, and operation of parts are as hereinafter de{ scribed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which I Figure I is a plan view of my improved Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of the trap, the spring-jaws being retracted and locked by the tripping device. Fig. 4 is a detail partly sectional View illustrating the connection between the ends of the wires forming a jaw. Fig. 5 is a perspective view further lllustrating the means and manner of locking the aws ready for tripping.

The'body of the trap is a horizontal frame' A, preferably constructed of metal and havtween the sides of the frame transversely, as

indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the same being arranged practically in the center of the frame A. These rods are riveted at oneend and are curved at their opposite ends, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, the ends 0 overlapping each other, as shown, and thus forming a loop, to

which an anchoring-chain D, provided with a spike E, is secured. One-half of each of the two jaws Band B is formed-by a single wire, which is coiled in opposite directions around the two adjacent rods or shafts C, the two end portions of the wire being extended along the side of the frame A and each curved inward to its extremity, where it is bent down ward and pointed to form a fang or piercingpoint 6. (See Fig. 4.) The ends of thewires forming each of the jaws B and B are connected by a'tube F as shownbest in Figs. 4-

and 5. The tube is slotted for a shortdistance at either end, the slot being of sufficient width to receive a fang b. After the wires have been duly inserted in the slots the ends of the tube are compressed in order to clamp them tightly upon the wires and their fangs,

as will be apparent without further description. Thus the tubes F form a rigid connec.

tion for the members of the jaw.

The device for locking the jaws when retracted or set, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5,

consists of a catch G, having curved ends slipped intoengag ement with the tubes F, and

thus practically with the jaws proper. as indicated both in Figs. 3 and 5. that when the animal seizes the bait a slight movement of the pendent bar Gr will serve to release the catch G from the jaws or from the tubes F, forming apart thereof, whereupon the jaws snap down with great velocity and force and strike upon the body of the animal. which is thus clamped between the jaw and the sloping portion of the frame A,which the jaw overhangs, as shown'in Fig. 1.

What I claim is- 1. In an animal-trap of the class indicated, the combination, with the horizontal base- It is obvious frame having transverse parallel shafts, of spring-jaws formed of wires which are coiled in opposite directions around said shafts, and their ends extended to form the free portions of the jaws, substantially as described.

2. In an animal-trap of the class indicated, the combination,with a horizontal base-frame having parallel shafts arranged transversely at its middle, spring-jaws formed of springwire coiled around the said shafts in opposite directions, the free ends of the wires being extended and curved and provided with fangs, and tubes connecting such ends, substantially as described.

3. In an animal-trap, the combination,with a springjaw formed of spring-wire coiled about a shaft and having ends extended and curved toward each other, and a tube applied for connecting said ends upon which the tube is pressed, substantially as described.

4. In an animal-trap, the combination,with a base-frame and a spring-jaw whose opposite ends are curved to form fangs,and a tube connecting such ends and provided at its ends with lengthwise slots adapted to receive the fangs, the slotted portions of the tubes being compressed upon the wires substantially as described.

5. In an animal-trap, the combination,with

the base-frame having transverse shafts, and

spring-jaws formed of springwire eoiled about the shafts, their ends being connected, of a trip comprising a head having curved ends adapted to partly embrace the jaws, and a pendent bar to which the bait may he attached, substantially as described.

6. In an animal-trap, the coml)ination,\vith the horizontal base having an end portion which is sloped as indicated, of a spring-jaw whose free end. is extended beyond the upper edge of the sloping portion of the frame, so

that the jaw will snap down thereon, substanv tially as described.

7. An animal-trap comprising a base-frame having a transverse shaft whose end is curved to form a loop exterior to the frame, and an anchoring-chain attached to such loop, suhstantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two \vitnesses.

GEORGE JOSIIII MILLER.

Witnesses:

E. IV. POM EROY, D. H. \VooLnnY. 

